Dear Reader

Dear Reader Column 11-09-09

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Dear Reader,

About every six years my husband and I buy tickets for a concert. Why only every six years? Because by the time I get around to actually purchasing tickets, the only seats left are the ones obstructed by a steel support beam in the second to the last row of the theatre. But when I saw an ad for an upcoming Jewel concert, (three months in advance) I stopped what I was doing and immediately bought seats online. Center seats, in aisle 13, not too close, not too far away. My husband and I were thrilled when the usher seated us.

Jewel is an amazing artist. Simply singing while playing guitar and telling a few personal stories in-between songs--her performance was outstanding! But the crowd was disgusting. By the time my husband and I got home later that evening, we felt like we'd been in an automobile accident or some other disaster.

Normally the theatre's bar is open before the performance and at intermission, but no food or drinks are allowed inside the concert hall. But for this performance, management allowed drinking and even posted a sign, encouraging people to bring their drinks in with them. One of Jewel's first stories was about how she started singing with her father in bars when she was in the fourth grade. And she added, "Singing in bars with my father is the reason I don't drink." But that didn't stop the people sitting around us from drinking--a lot.

A fight almost broke out two rows ahead of us, the man sitting next to me was totally wasted, yet he kept drinking and talking through the entire performance. The man sitting on the other side of my husband had also definitely crossed over the social drinking line. Drunks in stereo, competing with Jewel.

An announcement before the concert started reminded, "No flash or recordings" but there must have been at least twenty cell phones around us constantly flashing bright lights, beeping, and recording. And then after the concert, when my husband and I were walking out to the lobby, a man in front of us (who'd obviously had too much to drink) started yelling that someone had elbowed him. I thought the drunk was going to throw a punch. What an insane evening.

And then I'd forgotten about the bright lights before a show. Usually I bring my dark glasses because bright lights can give me a migraine headache. So when the house lights were up, I had to hold my program over my head to shield my eyes. I don't drink, but I looked like one of the drunks. So it will probably be another six years or more, before we try a concert again. We were both so very glad to get back home. "There's no place like home, there's no place like home."

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Steven Arterburn and Nancy Rue, Healing Sands; Charles Brokaw, The Atlantis Code; Jennie Shortridge, When She Flew; Anthony Flacco, The Road Out of Hell: Sanford Clark and the True Story of the Wineville Murders; Susan May Warren, The Great Christmas Bowl. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 10-12-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Author M.J. Rose had a great idea a few years ago, "Suzanne, you should give yourself a vacation every year and ask friends to fill in for you. Treat yourself to an annual vacation"...and from that ingenious idea the "Write a Dear Reader Contest" was born.

M.J. Rose is a good friend and a great writer. Send her an email and she'll reply, and she's giving away copies of her books. You can reach her at: MJRnewsletter@aol.com --Suzanne Beecher

From author M.J. Rose...

Instead of writing about reading books, I'm going to write about reading emails. And writing emails.

I've had wonderful friends my whole life. We'd have lunch, go shopping, see movies together, stay on the phone for hours and talk each other in and out of life's highs and lows. But then e-mail happened.

At first it seemed an even better way to keep in touch. Snippets of communication several times a day. Cheaper than the phone. Home, in bed, on my laptop, I could get work done. At work, I could e-mail friends or loved ones. Totally wonderful.

Except it isn't always, as this email exchange shows.

My e-mail kiss-off

From: RuthM To: MJRose Subject: Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sat, April 3, 2:34 PM

I haven't heard from you for three weeks and am saddened to know you have chosen to let go of our friendship. I had no idea you thought so little of me that you would treat me this way.--Ruth

From: MJRose To: RuthM RE: Subject: Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sat, April 3, 3:34 PM

I've been busy, traveling, crazy with nerves waiting to hear from my editor. Besides three weeks is not that long as far as my thinking goes. I don't know why you'd just jump to the conclusion that I have let go of our friendship nor did I realize you were clocking us.--MJ

From: RuthM To: MJRose RE:RE: Subject:Not having heard from you for three weeks Date: Sun, April 4, 9:04 AM

Obviously we just have a different view of friendship. I guess I like friends to be friends, not casual in and out acquaintances. So now we know. I wish you only the best but we can't be friends. Good luck with your new novel.--Ruth

The problem is, as a species, we're new at this e-mail thing. We've been learning how to communicate with each other face to face for millions of years and still can't get that right. E-mailing? We've only been at it five, ten, fifteen years at the most. We're not experts at it yet.

I hadn't ever thought about it before but when we rely on e-mail for important communications we miss out on a lot of what makes communication work. We don't get the cues in e-mail that we get looking at someone. We don't see eyes fill with tears, mouths break into grins, and frowns appear on foreheads.

In the mess of the e-mails that cost Ruth and I our friendship, what I didn't know was that her in-laws were getting divorced and that her husband--stressed over it--was taking it out on her. And what she didn't know was that a member of my family was in the hospital.

Had she told me that straight out, I'd have been more sympathetic. Had we spoken on the phone, I might have heard the worry in her voice. If we'd seen each other, she might have seen the circles under my eyes and asked what was wrong. But we missed all those clues.

The e-mail experience itself messes with our boundaries. Love letters, inter office messages, recipes from great Aunt Ida, and spam offering you very cheap vitamins or worse--they all come into the same box. And it's so easy to answer them all quickly and without taking the time to regroup, switch moods, and change our tone between responding to a relative and responding to a colleague.

Enamored with the ease and efficiency of the medium, we forget that not everything should be written down and sent off via the Internet. Some conversations need to be had in person or if that's not possible over the phone.

Once upon a time when the Internet was only a sci-fi writer's dream, communication in person or via letter was all we had. It's tempting to think that the only difference between e-mail and a letter is the way it gets delivered. But there are other, bigger differences.

So now I try to remember to think before I write and reread my message before sending and when I get an email that strikes me wrong I try not to jump to conclusions.

Feel free to tell me about your email issues--just email me at MJRnewsletter@aol.com. I promise to read your email slowly and write you back carefully. And the three best emailers will get a copy of one of my novels.

Thanks for reading with me--and Suzanne.

M.J. Rose
MJRnewsletter@aol.com
www.mjrose.com

M.J. Rose is the author of The Reincarnationist and The Memorist.

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Marilyn Brant, According to Jane; Stuart Neville, The Ghosts of Belfast; Tammy Lakatos Shames, RD, LD, CDN, CPT, Lyssie Lakatos, RD, CDN, CFT, The Secret to Skinny: How Salt Makes You Fat and the 4-Week Plan to Drop a Size & Get Healthier with Simple Low-Sodium Swaps; Dora Machado, Stonewiser: The Heart of the Stone; and Kat Martin, The Christmas Clock. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-08-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Congratulations to one of the Grand Prize winners of the Write a Dear Reader Contest, Tish Schneider!

"Tell me a little bit about yourself," I asked when I called to give Tish the good news.

"I work, come home and read books 'online!'" Such a light hearted, happy person. Tish works in customer service and I can see why.

Thanks for filling in for me today Tish.
--Suzanne Beecher

My son waved to me, not once but twice. Now, that may not seem like a big deal to you, but to me, it was HUGE! You see, when my son was little, it was mostly just the two of us, so I'd take him to the playground a lot for what I felt was much needed interaction with other children. I mean, how much fun could it be for a little kid to be with just an adult all the time? As he ran and played, he'd occasionally turn towards me, shoot me that cute smile of his and give me a big wave. It was a cross between a "Yes, Mom's still there and I'm safe" affirmation and a "Hey, Mom, watch me" dare. Seeing that happy facefull of joy, my heart would melt and somehow my life would feel complete, no matter what else was going on. But, as he grew older,I noticed that his waves got smaller and smaller. By the time he was a tween, I was lucky to get a half-hidden quick flick of the wrist. Oh, I understood and didn't take it personally. It was just a passage of his growing up. I mean, how embarrassing to be caught waving to your mom, you know? Instead, I learned to cherish the hugs and smiles he gave me freely at home, "behind the scenes."

But then, the other day IT happened. My son, now a Senior in high school, was at marching band practice as I was leaving a band parents' meeting. He was crossing the lot with the rest of the drumline, many of them his friends, to rejoin the rest of the band when he saw me and waved. I was stunned! Is he waving at me, or someone behind me? What should I do? Was waving back allowed? Would it be too embarrassing? After a few more steps, he turned completely towards me, and with that characteristic crooked smile of his, he gave me a big "Howdy!" wave, with even a "Hi, Mom!" greeting thrown in. For a flash of a second, I saw my little boy standing on the playground and tears swelled to my eyes as my heart began that familiar melt. And suddenly, my world was complete.

Tish Schneider

AUTHORBUZZ: With so many new books out every week, we promise these are five that deserve your attention: Iain Levison, How to Rob an Armored Car; Eileen Goudge, Once in a Blue Moon; Melody Carlson, The Christmas Dog; Laurie Ann Levin, God, the Universe, and Where I Fit In; and Laura Childs, Tragic Magic. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

Dear Reader Column 10-07-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader, I'm on vacation. Today's Guest Column is written by author Julie Compton.

Julie was an attorney, but gave up law when she moved to Florida to pursue writing full-time. Tell No Lies (St. Martin's Minotaur 2008) was her critically-acclaimed legal thriller described as part Scott Turow, part Jodi Picoult. Kirkus Reviews gave the novel a starred review and described it as "a taut, tense cautionary tale complete with courtroom drama and a surprise ending." Her second novel, Rescuing Olivia arrives in bookstores this February. In this romantic psychological thriller, a Florida biker sets out on a search against time to find and save the woman he loves when she mysteriously disappears after a suspicious motorcycle accident.

Julie reads at the book club every day and she would love to hear from you. Drop her a line, she will reply to everyone and be sure to sign up for her book giveaway, too. Thank you so very much for filling in for me Julie.--Suzanne Beecher

From author Julie Compton...

I'm honored to be asked to write a guest column while Suzanne is away on vacation. I've been a longtime fan of DearReader.com, and even on those rare occasions when the book of the week is not to my liking, I still look forward to Suzanne's warm welcome each day. I've never met her in person, yet through the magic of the Internet, I feel I know her so well.

Which brings me to my topic du jour: The Magic of the Internet.

This past summer I traveled to Scotland with friends. Seven of us rented a wonderfully unique vacation home, a church built in 1633 that had been converted several years back into a six bedroom house. The former church is located in a town called South Queensferry, not far from Edinburgh. We arrived from various points. My husband, Rick, and I came from Florida, as did our friends, Joseph and Jennifer. Margaret and Sarah came from New York, Richard from England. All of us are writers of some sort except Rick (but he fits in with any crowd). We had a delightful time seeing the sights in Queensferry and Edinburgh, attending the various festivals (including the Edinburgh Book Festival), and hanging out in the pubs sampling haggis and cider. It was the quintessential group vacation with good sights, new foods, and long talks with great friends.

But here's what was so unusual about our group, and the reason I mention the trip: except for me and Rick, all of us originally met each other because of an online connection. Joseph and Jennifer met years before in the early AOL writer chat rooms and have been a couple now for thirteen years. A few years ago, they started a social networking site for writers, artists and musicians called Inked In (www.inkedin.ning.com) and that's where I first "met" them. We later became more than virtual friends when they invited me and Rick to their holiday open house. Margaret and I attended the same university years ago, but were complete strangers until she emailed me last year after seeing a blurb about my first novel in our alumni magazine. I "introduced" her to Joseph and Jennifer when she joined the Inked In site. Sarah met Joseph and Jennifer through another friend of theirs from the AOL chat room, and all of us met Richard when he stumbled upon Inked In from a Google search.

I readily admit that I was once a skeptic about the long-term value of online relationships. Sure, I had fun chatting with online friends, but I never believed my cyber-buddies might become anything more than that. I certainly never thought I'd be vacationing with them one day. It felt odd, even, to attend the open house where I first met Joseph and Jennifer in person. I'll never forget the look on Rick's face after I told him we'd been invited to their party.

"How do you know these people?" he'd asked.

I'd shrugged a bit sheepishly. "Well, I don't, not really."

Yet we took a chance and drove across town to attend a party where we knew no one. I'm glad we did, because that drive has turned into a much longer--and yes, magical--journey.

Next stop: a road trip from Orlando to the Gulf Coast. It'd be a hoot to someday meet Suzanne in person, too.

To see our merry band of travelers, go to:
http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/julie-compton.html

(There was just something about the photo that made Richard turn it into an album cover.)

Julie is giving away two books. Be sure to email her to have a chance to win her first book, Tell No Lies, or an ARC of her upcoming release, Rescuing Olivia. Email her at: julie@julie-compton.com Her website is: www.julie-compton.com

KIDSBUZZ: This week brings new authors and longtime favorites, all wonderful teen books to enjoy (and possibly win) from: Katherine Gilbert Murdock, Front and Center; Mitali Perkins, Secret Keeper; Tanya Lee Stone, Almost Astronauts; and Mary Pearson, The Miles Between. Go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

 

Dear Reader Column 09-17-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

If you're looking for something different to cook, peruse through the book club's recipe blog. My favorite recipes are there, and readers have sent in some of theirs, too. Go to: http://tinyurl.com/yuf6aq

"Dear Suzanne, I wanted to let you know I tried the brownie cupcake recipe and it was a huge hit. The second time I made it I doubled the recipe. I love to bake but don't always have the time. I just wanted to say I love your daily columns. It is fun to sit for a few minutes and read. Too often I am on the go and don't take time for me. You have taught me to try and do something fun. Whether it's bubbles, or baking, or doing something nice for not only someone else, but also for me. Thank you and keep the recipes and columns coming.--Kim

Don't forget to enter this month's Chocolate Chip Cookie Contest. Go to: http://www.emailbookclub.com/photo/Cookie090109.html

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Warm regards,
Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: Michelle Moran, Cleopatra's Daughter: A Novel; William Gladstone, The Twelve; Katherine Neville, The Fire; Mia Lundin, N.P., R.N., Female Brain Gone Insane: An Emergency Guide for Women Who Feel Like They are Falling Apart; Susan Squires, Time for Eternity. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

Dear Reader Column 09-16-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There's something NEW at the book clubs today!

In addition to our Teen Book Club, every Wednesday, right after my column, be sure to check out KidsBuzz--our newest addition to the book clubs. Just like AuthorBuzz, simply click on the link to KidsBuzz and you'll discover great books for kids, giveaways, and a chance to talk to children's authors.

Visit KIDSBUZZ today and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

KIDSBUZZ: New authors, longtime favorites, all wonderful children's and teen books to enjoy (and possibly win): Laurie Halse Anderson, Chains; Amy Hest, Little Chick; Deborah Heiligman, Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith; and G. Neri, Surf Mules. Go to: http://www.authorbuzz.com/kidsbuzz

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

Dear Reader Column 09-11-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There's an ant crawling up my computer screen at this very moment. At first I thought he was a period or an animated exclamation point, slightly moving from side-to-side, from the excitement of reading what I'd just finished writing. The things they can do with computer software these days. Well, I was a believer for a minute.

See how easy it is to think of something to write about? You can still enter the annual Write a Dear Reader Contest, but you must do it now. There are only 2 days left to submit your entry. No pressure, simply have fun. So go ahead and start writing, I can't wait to read your entry. To read last year's winning entries, see the prizes and get all the info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

SEARCHING FOR YOUR NEXT BIG THRILL? Read the "Between the Lines" feature interview with Laura Caldwell then read about great thrillers from: John T. Cullen, Cheryl Norman, Jim Michael Hansen, Bill Loehfelm, Rick Mofina, Tasha Alexander, Hank Phillippi Ryan, Russell Atwood, Sheldon Russell, Sharon Potts, W.D. Gagliani, Kylie Brant, R. Barri Flowers & Jan Grape, Brenda Novak, Heather Graham, Robin Parrish, William Kent Krueger and L.J. Sellers. Go to: http://www.thrillerwriters.org

* This month's Penguin Classics book is The Flame Trees of Thika by Elspeth Huxley. To comment on the book and enter the Penguin Classics Drawing, go to: http://tinyurl.com/SeptClassics

Dear Reader Column 09-01-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

There's a class for everything these days--braiding your hair, anger management, improving your concentration, dealing with difficult people, how to stay awake in a chemistry class, using persuasion to get what you want, and for $150 I can sign up for Heal Your Life, Achieve Your Dreams. But nobody's offering the class I really need, Crying 101: How to let yourself cry. Because I seem to have lost the art of crying.

It used to be easy to let the tears flow. Tears of joy or sadness, whatever the occasion, I didn't think twice about boo-hooing. It felt like a completely natural thing to do--doesn't everybody cry? I know the facts, crying releases tension and even lowers my blood pressure, 'so go ahead and cry over spilled milk Suzanne,' but I just can't seem to get the waterworks started.

Crying 101, I think it would be a real money-maker. Can't imagine I'm the only person who's experiencing dry eyes. Chopping strong onions, reading sappy Hallmark cards, watching Steel Magnolias three times in a row--I'd show up wearing waterproof mascara, in anticipation. Or how about having the students bring in photos of beloved pets that have passed on...oh dear..."where's the tissue"...maybe I don't need that class after all.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

* ENTER this year's "Write a Dear Reader" contest! Fill in for Suzanne while she's on vacation. Your column will be published, you'll win 80 books (most signed), and a book bag from Vanguard Press. It's a lot of fun! Prizes, guidelines and deadline, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

Dear Reader Column 08-31-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Telling a story is easy when you're sitting across from a friend, "You won't believe the funny thing that happened to my Aunt Nellie last weekend." But sometimes when you sit down to write that same story--suddenly facing a blank computer screen makes it feel frightening and the words get all jumbled up.

Today's column is made up of notes I wrote to myself on a day when I was thinking, 'Suzanne, you'll never be able to write again.' I'm sharing this glimpse of a writer's bad day, in case you haven't entered this year's "Write a Dear Reader Contest." Perhaps you haven't entered yet because you're experiencing writer's block, or maybe you're just plain scared to even try? But don't worry. If that's what you've been feeling your fears are completely normal, and after you finish reading "Notes from a bad writing day," you'll be inspired to begin. Because even though I write for a living there are days when that blank computer screen frightens the bejeebers out of me, too.

Notes from a bad writing day...

Can't seem to write anything. I start writing, running with an idea and then I fall off the cliff. Can't remember what I intended to do with it. Maybe it just sounded better when I first thought of it, like the dress that looked so cute on the hanger, but when I tried it on, what a mess!

Usually when I sort through things I recognize the difficult part I'm facing, but I always face that part, that's nothing new. I wade through the hard part of writing, but today I can't find my way. I want to write, want to feel the high of being in the groove, but it's just not anywhere that I can grab a hold of it.

There isn't any other option but to continue on until something becomes clear to me. I have a daily column that's due, so unless I want to post a sign, "Writer Temporarily Out to Lunch" or "Writer Temporarily Lost her Mind" I'm going to have to churn out a column. I used to tell myself if I sit in the chair long enough "IT" will come. And IT always does show up eventually, but right now my Mojo isn't within reach.

What do you do when IT won't come to you? Well if IT isn't going to come to me, then maybe I'm going to have to go looking for it. Maybe it's hiding out down by the water, I could walk down there and take a look. Maybe it's hiding out in my cookbook? Instead of "Where's Waldo?" Where's Suzanne's IT that allows her to write? Perhaps I'd find IT in the fingertips of a massage therapist, or shopping for shoes?

Those notes (and I confess, a new pair of shoes) helped me find my missing Mojo. So if you've been having problems getting started on your Write a Dear Reader Story, you've now been given permission to get a massage or buy some new shoes. What a deal! But don't forget about the actual writing part--because there's only 13 days left to send your entry and I'm looking forward to reading your story.

To see the prizes, read last year's winning entries and to get the details about the "Write a Dear Reader Contest," go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

AUTHORBUZZ: New authors, old favorites--all wonderful books you can win: John Shors, Dragon House; Michelle Moran, The Heretic Queen: A Novel; Jane Velez-Mitchell, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life; James R. Benn, Evil for Evil; Maureen Lang, Look to the East. Go to: http://authorbuzz.com/dearreader

 

Dear Reader Column 08-19-09

Join my email book club. Over 350,000 people read 5-minutes a day. To see what books I'm featuring this week, go to: http://www.dearreader.com/

Dear Reader,

Yesterday's Mac distress column brought numerous cheerleading emails from readers assuring me that after a few miserable days, I'd fall in love with my new Apple laptop. Frustration with a new computer sounds like one of life's minor problems, and to be sure it is, but when your job is writing and suddenly technical stuff takes priority over creativity, it's very unsettling.

A few readers, like Deb Mann, were curious about why I decided to make the switch from a PC to an Apple in the first place. Initially switching wasn't the plan. My old HP laptop had been good to me, but I'd been limping along with numerous problems for months. The list of repairs was too long, so I decided it was time to go shopping for a new PC.

The feel of a laptop's keyboard is one of the main criteria in my buying decision, so I visited four different stores and typed on every laptop. Since I'm 5' 2" most of the displays were too high for me to reach, so I'd borrow a stepstool from another department in the store, climb up a couple of steps and start typing. I finally settled on a small laptop that I loved but when I took a closer look, there was a pattern of concentric circles on the cover and near the keyboard. I tried to ignore those circles, but now that I knew they were there, I hated them!

"It's only a design," my son was trying to convince me to buy the computer, because he'd just purchased the same model. But how a machine makes me feel is important, and since I'd be using it every day, I just couldn't get past those ugly circles.

Obviously people buy this machine, so somebody out there must like these circles. I figured it must be a generational thing, the manufacturer must be marketing to a younger demographic. But then I noticed that my son had left the manufacturers' plastic stickers overtop of the circle pattern on his own computer. "Oh, so they're just circles? But apparently you can't stand looking at them either." And then the next day, when I was testing more keyboards in an office supply store, I noticed a mother and daughter looking at the same laptop and I heard the daughter comment, "I don't want to buy that computer, I can't stand those circles." So just who 'is' the manufacturer marketing to? Because I'm 55, my son is 30 and the young woman in the store was 21 and we all hate those circles!

So Deb, that's the long answer to your question. The short answer is, ugly circles drove me to try an Apple computer. And even though I've been moaning the past couple of days about my decision, I must admit, I'm starting to love my Apple.

Thanks for reading with me. It's so good to read with friends.

Suzanne Beecher
Suzanne@DearReader.com
http://www.DearReader.com

* ENTER this year's "Write a Dear Reader" contest! Fill in for Suzanne while she's on vacation. Your column will be published, you'll win 80 books (most signed), and a book bag from Vanguard Press. It's a lot of fun! Prizes, guidelines and deadline, go to: http://tinyurl.com/55n995